McClain's takeaways from Texans 20, Jaguars 3

Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) makes a 26-yard reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Houston.

Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Here are five takeaways from the Texans' 20-3 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday that gave them an 11-5 record, secured a division title and assured them of a home game in the wild card round of the playoffs:

Hopkins continues to excel

When receiver DeAndre Hopkins came into the interview room after the game, he brought Andre Johnson with him. They are the best receivers in team history. Working mainly against cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Hopkins had 12 catches for 147 yards. That gave him career highs with 115 receptions and 1,572 yards. He also caught 11 touchdown passes. Hopkins' catches this season tied Johnson's team record. Johnson owns the team record for yards with 1,598 in 2012. When asked if he thought about telling Deshaun Watson to throw him one more pass near the end of the game, Hopkins looked at Johnson and said, "I think Andre was telling him not to do it."

Watson runs to win

The Texans didn't enter the game wanting Watson to run 13 times, but he had the option, and he kept the ball so many times fans were holding their breath worried that he would get injured. The Jaguars were fifth in defense, including second against the pass, so Watson's running helped them generate 136 yards, the most since they had 187 against Cleveland on Dec. 2. It was the fourth consecutive game in which Watson led the team in rushing. That's not good, but it seems unavoidable with so much at stake and the run blocking so inconsistent at this crucial time of the season.

Watson was sacked six more times against the Jaguars. They recorded 12 more knockdowns of Watson. He closed the season being sacked 62 times. That's the first time since 2006 that an NFL quarterback has been sacked at least 60 times. It last happened to Jon Kitna, who was sacked 63 times when he played for Detroit that season. Watson's sacks were third-most in team history behind David Carr's 76 in 2002 and 68 in 2005. Fans and media keep saying the Texans have to improve their pass protection, but at this time of the season, that's not happening. Opponents get better and pass rushes improve, so expect Watson to still get sacked and hit a lot when they play a wild card game at NRG Stadium.

Running game improves

In the Texans' previous three games – a three-point loss to Indianapolis, a seven-point victory over the New York Jets and a two-point loss at Philadelphia – they averaged 66 yards a game rushing. In their first 12 games, they averaged 140, including 146 during the nine-game winning streak. With Watson leading the way, they accumulated 134 against the Jaguars. It helped a little having Lamar Miller back in the lineup after a one-game absence because of an ankle injury. He rushed 17 times for 56 yards (3.3-yard average) and scored on a 7-yard run. If the Texans are going to win a playoff game, they'll need to be at least as productive as they were against the Jaguars.

The defense never rests

After getting obliterated by Andrew Luck (Indianapolis), Sam Darnold (New York Jets) and Nick Foles (Philadelphia), the Texans' secondary needed a get-well game. Blake Bortles and the Jaguars came at just the right time. With Cody Kessler injured, Bortles returned to the lineup in what was expected to be his last game for Jacksonville. He was 15-of-28 for 107 yards. He didn't throw a touchdown pass and was intercepted once by Andre Hal. He was sacked three times, including 1 ½ by J.J. Watt, and had a rating of 47.8. The Texans limited the Jaguars to 119 yards and six first downs. Bortles completed nine passes to his wide receivers for 76 yards.

John McClain, a Waco native who graduated from Baylor in 1975, is in his 43rd year at the Houston Chronicle and his 40th covering the National Football League, including the Oilers and Texans. He worked for the Waco Tribune Herald from 1973-76, when he accepted a job with the Chronicle. to cover the original Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association.

McClain has a plaque in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio as the 2006 winner of the Dick McCann Memorial Award presented annually by the Pro Football Writers of America to a writer for his long and distinguished coverage of the NFL. He is past president of the Pro Football Writers of America.

He's a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Seniors Committee and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

In 2015, he was named as a Gridiron Legend in Texas, becoming the third member of the media behind Dave Campbell and Mickey Herskowitz.

McClain can be heard six times a week on the Texans' flagship station Sports Radio 610 in Houston. He also does weekly sports talk shows in Nashville, Knoxville, Waco, Austin and San Antonio.

McClain also has appeared in eight movies: The Rookie, The Longest Yard, Spring Breakers, Secretariat, Invincible, Cook County, The Game Plan and Make It Rain.